Little Rock maintainers put 'pride in the name of mission excellence'

Published Jan. 20, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The crew chief shivers as he stands in the flightline on this cold January day. He watches the C-130 Hercules as it takes to the sky and says he remembers all the work he and his team recently completed on that very aircraft.

"That's my airplane and it's the best one around," he said.

It's that level of pride and ownership, which is evident throughout the 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, from the youngest and newest Airman all the way up to the squadron's commander.

"It's the continuing standard of excellence [which drives the squadron]," said Maj. Justin Barry, 314th AMXS commander. "We are a much younger force than 12 years ago, and even though the experience level is not the same, we have so many young kids who are very eager and proud to be in the Air Force and working with the Herk. I think that pride and performance is what keeps the level so high."

The squadron professionally maintains 30 C-130E, H and J models and C-21 aircraft to generate 15,000 flying hours or 4,700 sorties annually. Its members support the flight training objectives of squadrons including the 29th Weapons Squadron, 48th and 62nd Airlift Squadrons.

So who makes those numbers and missions happen? Try 528 highly trained Airmen across 12 different Air Force specialties.

"When people ask what I do [in the Air Force], I tell them I take care of airplanes," said Airman 1st Class Shannon Alicea, a 314th AMXS aerospace maintenance apprentice.

What the 22-year-old Airman lacks in experience -- Airman Alicea came to Little Rock fresh from technical school April 2009 -- she makes up with drive.

"It's a physically challenging job," said Airman Alicea. The 5-foot-2-inch Airman said she motivates herself to work hard so she can keep up with her taller, male counterparts.

But the motivation is not a one-person job as she has plenty of support throughout the squadron.

"Our supervisors are very hands-on [with mentoring and training]," the Ridley Park, Pa., native said. "I can always find help ... I can go to anyone and they'll take time out of their day [to help out] and I really appreciate that."

Solid mentorship is what squadron supervisors strive to build on and pass on to junior NCOs and young Airmen, said Master Sgt. Joel Sparta, a 314th AMXS aircraft section chief.

"It's not easy juggling time between daily supervisory duties and training and physical training, but even if my plate is overflowing, if someone comes to me with a legitimate concern then they become my priority," Sergeant Sparta said. "We try our hardest to take care of our people."

Although the squadron has its share of challenges, ranging from working with 1960's-era aircraft and learning how to maintain the various C-130 models to training and manning issues, 314th AMXS maintainers manage to come together day-in and day-out to make it happen.

"When [Col. Mark Czelusta, 314th Airlift Wing commander] talks about our standards being unapologetically high and owning the mission, those are phrases resonating with our personnel," said Major Barry. "For all the aircrew members coming here for initial qualifications and for all the foreign military coming here to learn how to work on the C-130, the 314th AMXS is their first exposure to see how C-130 aircraft maintenance is done. We set the standard through our performance for how they will see aircraft maintenance for the rest of their careers. When they come here and see the professionalism of our personnel, they take that home with them.

"This is not a hobby, and we are not doing this just for fun. This is a deadly serious business we're in," the squadron commander said.

Throughout the squadron it is clear: teamwork and camaraderie work hand-in-hand to drive the team to mission success.

"I care about maintenance, and I love our maintainers," said Major Barry. "We have pride in the unit and pride in being part of the mission and we're trying to take that to the next level in our pride in ownership where people can say 'That's my airplane and my airplane is going to be the best in the fleet.' By proxy, I extend that sentiment to everyone in my squadron saying 'This is my squadron and my squadron is going to be the best on the base.'"